Welsh rugby club investigated after advertising derby match ‘not for girls'
A Welsh rugby club has come under fire for its 'ignorant, unacceptable and inappropriate' promotion of a Welsh Premiership fixture which it claimed was 'definitely not for girls.'
Neath RFC sparked a furious backlash from former Welsh internationals and politicians after using the controversial slogan in a social media post to advertise their upcoming derby with Llangennech later this month.
The incendiary post was deleted within hours of being published on Monday evening and included the hashtag #NotForGirls. It read: 'The new West Wales Derby. Friday night under the lights. This one isn't for the faint hearted. This one isn't for the half-committed. This one is definitely NOT FOR GIRLS.'
A graphic accompanying the post also had 'not for girls' bolded up in pink capital letters, which provoked a scathing reaction from former Wales women players.
Siwan Lillicrap, the former Wales captain and current Wales under-18 head coach, wrote on X: 'I can't believe my eyes – shame on you @neathrfc! Ignorant, unacceptable and inappropriate.'
Tonia Antoniazzi, the Labour MP for Gower and former Wales international, wrote on social media: 'Disappointing for a club with such a great history and legacy which has inspired so many women and girls to want to play the game and have played!'
Lowri Norkett-Morgan, the former Wales wing, also condemned the club's ill-fated marketing attempt, branding it 'absolutely disgusting'.
Wales international Cerys Hale also weighed in, saying: 'Who the hell thought this type of marketing was acceptable? Absolutely appalling from Neath RFC, I hope anyone associated are [sic] completely embarrassed. If anyone questioned why we feel the need to shout about equality.'
The Wales Rugby Union, who are said to be investigating what happened, spotted the post within hours of it being published on Monday evening and instructed the Premiership side to take it down. A Welsh Rugby Union spokesperson said: 'We asked Neath to remove the post as soon as possible and of course do not condone the sentiment it contained.'
In a repost that has since been deleted, Llangennech quoted the controversial post with the message: 'Fixture update. Friday night lights at The Gnoll!'
'Forget the noise'
Neath subsequently posed a lengthy follow-up message in which the club seemed to suggest that women had been involved in the promotion of the club's fixture. 'Now that we have your attention… Forget the noise. Forget the outrage. Let's talk about real change,' the club wrote in a statement on X.
The club went on to say that 'women aren't just involved in Neath RFC – they are essential to its success' before detailing its successful women and girls section. One of the fastest-growing and most important parts of Neath RFC is the Neath Panthers –our thriving women's and girl's rugby set-up.
'They play a vital role in the future of our club, showcasing their skill, passion, and determination – the very qualities that define the future of Welsh rugby.'
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